p.2 #1 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
Sorry, I thought you were referring to the upcoming 85 GM II would have a loud AF motor. Yeah, current one, might have but I never bothered getting one since it isn't overly sharp.
p.2 #2 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
No. I am very happy with my Samyang 85/1.4 (gorgeous bokeh, very sharp and AF is fast enough) and see no reason to upgrade at all. And for travel I have the Samyang 75/1.8 (small, light, cheap but very sharp, lovely bokeh and fast AF). Around this FL I'm done
p.2 #3 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
I remember having the Pentax FA 77 1.8 Limited. It was a gorgeous portrait lens. It also wasn‘t the sharpest, but sharp enough. Maybe that‘s the recipe for a lovely portrait lens?
There used to be a time when people recommended Macro lenses for portraits. Other people rejected that idea because of their excellent sharpness. Sharpness (I mean much of it…) seems not to be a dealbreaker for portrait lenses anymore, quite the opposite seems to be true, right?
Well, I also own the 50 GM 1.2. I haven‘t had the time to shoot it much, but from what I saw so far I can say that it‘s sharp. But I still has great bokeh and rendering. So maybe it doesn‘t necessarily have to be an “either … or“ thing…
But then again, I suppose not being too sharp is an ingredient that can help a portrait lens to “perform magic“ somehow…
p.2 #4 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
When the 85 GM II or the 1.2 comes out there will be a mass sell and buy, then 6 months later the original GM will suddenly come back into positive favor for the unique qualities it has for 'some'. I can see it coming a mile away.
p.2 #5 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
Btw. there have been newer portrait lenses for Pentax. The FA 77 ist from the 90s, if I‘m right. It was developed for film cameras. But well, it‘s still the best.
p.2 #6 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
zeitlos wrote:
Btw. there have been newer portrait lenses for Pentax. The FA 77 ist from the 90s, if I‘m right. It was developed for film cameras. But well, it‘s still the best.
Yes I had the fabulous '3 Amigos' from Pentax (at one time described as the best three lenses ever made) ! The 77 Ltd however was my favourite, I was pretty sad when I switched to Nikon and let it go.
p.2 #9 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
zeitlos wrote:
If yes, why?
If not, what speaks against it in your opinion?
I own an 85mm f/1.4 GM. It's not a "full GM" - a bit slow, and not supporting things like full-speed on A1 / A9 III.
Will I buy a GM II version? I don't know. Maybe - it will depend on the reviews it gets. If it were f/1.2, I doubt I'd have been willing or able to resist, but if it's f/1.4 - I'll wait and see...
Would I buy one today, knowing what I know about its shortcomings, and the rumours of a new one this year? No, I think not. Maybe I'd use an 85mm f/1.8? Maybe the 70-200mm GM II (that is a very fine lens!)?
Even if you decide you'd want one, a bit of a wait might get you one at a much better price - there are likely to be secondhand ones a plenty once the GM II arrives, and there is also the likelihood of a price drop on the remaining stock of new ones.
p.2 #11 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
Yes, if the slow, noisy AF is not going to be a problem (it was for me so I bought the Sigma instead). Rendering of the current 85GM is its key selling point and I imagine the replacement will fall in line with the usual Sony update ethos of pin-sharp and twice the price (especially if it's an f/1.2).
p.2 #12 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
Yes yes and yes. I hesitated buying it cause Sony had so many compelling 85mm options.
But after having shot over 3000 pics in few months only with this lens, it became my fav lens of all time. It has that Nikon 58mm 1.4G feel to it but with decent sharpness and better focus accuracy.
p.2 #15 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
GoroMajima wrote:
Yes yes and yes. I hesitated buying it cause Sony had so many compelling 85mm options.
But after having shot over 3000 pics in few months only with this lens, it became my fav lens of all time. It has that Nikon 58mm 1.4G feel to it but with decent sharpness and better focus accuracy.
Well summarized.
p.2 #16 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
I used to have 85gm. Now, 50gm f1.2 got the role that the 85mm used to play. While it’s not the same lens obviously, it’s been replaced and I don’t miss it too bad.
p.2 #18 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
I have the Sigma 85/1.4 DG DN Art and I am pretty happy with it.
So the Sony has to really beat it hard, especially in the bokeh department where the Sigma can be a little nervous with foliage on some distances. If not I will continue to wait for a f1.2 version.
p.2 #19 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
I waited as long as I could for Sony to update the 85/1.4. Ended up going with the more versatile Sony 70-200/2.8 GM2. No regrets. I get the same quality from it as I do my 35GM.
p.2 #20 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?
SNJOps wrote:
I used to own the lens and sold it because while it is capable of producing absolutely beautiful images the lack of sharpness was just too much for me in the end. Was particularly noticeable on 61mp but less so than when I had an A7III. I would only recommend the 85mm GM to someone who values rendering considerably over all other aspects of IQ.
For those who want the best overall 85mm on emount get the Sigma Art DG DN. I have seen it compared to the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 and it more than held its own its that good. However in my opinion I don’t think it renders as nicely as the GM so I waiting for an 85mm GM update....Show more →
Eh, between my wife and I, we have both Sony and Canon systems,— and own the Sigma 85 DG DN, Canon RF 85 1.2, and previously the 85 GM, and the only one of those FE mount lenses that competes with the Canon in bokeh / rendering is the 85 GM. The Sigma is a fine lens, sharp, but not a wow look from it. We really regret selling the Sony 85 GM. I’d get a used 85 GM in a heartbeat, and would be tempted at $1300 for a new one — if I needed an 85
